Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet announced yesterday that the Salida Fire Department has won a $185,725 competitive Operations and Safety Grant through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. This grant can be used for professional training, protective equipment, and firefighting and emergency vehicles. The Salida Fire Department plans to buy self-contained breathing apparatuses, devices that provide breathable air for firefighters and rescue workers when entering fires and other dangerous environments.

“Our local firefighters and emergency responders are putting their lives on the line to protect people and property,” Bennet said. “These resources will help provide them with the equipment they need to carry out their jobs and ensure their safety.”

The AFG Program is part of a nationwide effort to strengthen the overall level of preparedness and ability to respond to fire and other hazards.